“You good?” he asked after she took a few deep breaths.
“Nothing is good about this,” she snapped. Her nostrils flared, but she gave him a tight nod. “But I’m not going to gut you or shift right now.”
“Good to know,” he said lightly. “I’m going to shift to my cat now and see if I can follow the man’s scent.”
“It’s a man?”
“I think so,” he said. “I also think the guy masked his scent somehow because I can’t get a lead on exactly what he is. The scent is heavier here as if he just randomly popped up into existence at your window. Since that’s impossible, I think he covered his trail to get here, and after a while, it wore off or something. Once I shift to my cat, I might get a better handle on it.” He met her gaze. “That’s also why you couldn’t scent him in the room with the boys.” She hadn’t said as much, but she would have told him if she’d scented another in that room.
Her lips thinned and she gave him a tight nod.
He let out a breath then unzipped his pants. He hadn’t bothered to button them when he’d run to the door at her knocking. He also hadn’t bothered with underwear. Her gaze fell on his cock as he stripped down, but she didn’t say anything. He could scent her arousal even through her pain and rage and it killed him. It wasn’t the first time he’d scented it, but he pushed it aside as he had before. His dick filled and stood at attention in her presence as it usually did, but he ignored it. This wasn’t the time to worry about attraction and his dick’s feelings.
He quickly shifted to his cat, the familiar burn and ache not cooling his libido. He rolled his shoulders then started to track. Anya and Oliver kept a good distance between themselves and him, and he was grateful for that. They’d interfere, and he couldn’t allow that to happen, not when Lucas’s and Owen’s lives were at stake.
In his jaguar form, each scent was intensified. The world around him felt as if each trail of forest, man, and shifter were a tactile disarray that he would now be able to unfold and unravel if he truly focused. His sight was crisper, his hearing even more sensitive. He could feel the brush between his toes, and knew the pads of his feet picked up on even the barest trace of disturbance in the ground. If he let his cat take over, he knew he’d be fully immersed in all of his senses. However, it was the man within that made him who he was. Without both halves of the whole, he wouldn’t be Cole.
He followed the scent of the man—he was sure it was a man now—and the muted scents of the two boys. Since it was only scents, he couldn’t tell if the boys had been struggling or not. However, he didn’t taste the vivid scent of death. The boys were alive when they were taken.
That was something, at least.
He continued to follow the trail that led the boys away from the house and toward the high fence that kept the shifters in and the humans that did not work for the SAU out. Only that didn’t appear to work in either case. Some shifters were still able to sneak away for Pack business, and as was evidenced by what had happened that morning, a human could come onto Pack land.
Cole shifted back, his body sweat-slick from shifting back and forth so quickly.
“What is it?” Anya asked. She kept a respectable distance between them, and he wasn’t sure if it was because she wanted to keep the scents clean, or that she didn’t want to be around him while he was naked. While most shifters didn’t care about nudity, it was different when both parties were attracted to one another and fighting it. Because damn, he could tell she was fighting it as much as he was.
Oliver threw Cole’s jeans at him, and Cole slid them on. It seemed the Foreseer had picked up on the undertones between Cole and Anya. He didn’t know if that was good or bad, but it didn’t matter right then. He’d deal with this ache later—once the boys were safe and whoever had taken them lay in a pool of his own blood.
“They scaled the fence,” Cole growled. “Not well since the bastard cut himself on the way up. He’s human and he’s not light on his feet. Whatever kept his scent hidden from us was man-made. Science. It wasn’t skill.”
Humans kidnapping shifter cubs wasn’t unheard of. But most who dared to try were killed instantly. And then the shifters were punished for daring to harm a human. This man, however, had used science in a way that Cole didn’t understand, and that worried him. What else was out there? Why had the cubs been taken?
Cole looked over his shoulder, knowing this was far bigger than just a Tracker and a momma bear. He’d have to tell the Alphas, and then they could decide what to do. But they needed to get the hell out of there fast before the SAU patrols caught wind of them venturing too close to the edges of the enclosure.
Anya moved closer, her hands shaking. She leaned toward the fence and inhaled. When she froze and the scent of unadulterated fear mixed with her rage, Cole moved quickly. He cupped her face and forced her gaze to his. Oliver growled at his side, but he ignored the Foreseer. The damn man hadn’t seen this. He hadn’t known his nephews would be taken in the dead of night by a human who was able to hide from them. Foreseers might not be able to see those close to them, but damn it, this shouldn’t have happened. Cole knew he shouldn’t blame the bear, but fuck it, he needed to blame someone.
“Anya,” Cole bit out. He ran his thumbs along her cheekbones, the skin so soft there he had to hold back a groan. Not the time, cat.
“I know this human,” she whispered.
Cole blinked, shock smashing into him.
“No,” Oliver bit out. “Fuck no.”
“What do you mean?” Cole asked, his voice shaking. The only humans shifters knew were their jailers, the SAU. How could she know this particular human? Why would Oliver be speaking as if he’d heard from a ghost of their past? Dread slid down Cole’s spine and he swallowed hard before speaking. “How do you know this human?”
Anya blinked up at him, agony and anger warring in her blue eyes. “Their father,” she whispered. “Lucas and Owen’s father.”
Cole took a step back, blinking. “What the fuck?”
Anya lifted her lip in a snarl, her bear in her eyes. “It was a mistake. A long time ago. I was an idiot and too trusting, but that is not the issue right now. That motherfucker stole my babies, and I will be getting them back. Now.”
She turned toward the fence and looked ready to climb. As a cat, he could jump over it in one leap. As a bear, she’d be able to climb it just as easily. The wolves could jump pretty high as well, but he’d never seen a bear clear the fence without having to use their hands or paws first. He reached out and gripped her shoulder. She pulled away from his touch, growling.
“Don’t you dare stop me, cat.”
He snarled. “Think about what you’re doing. You can’t just leave the den with your fucking collar on without thinking it through. Have you ever been outside your den? I know damn well you haven’t been outside of this one. You don’t even know the interior workings of the den, let alone outside the damn thing. Take a step back. We need to talk to the Alphas and get permission before we just leave the den and risk the rest of our people.”
She swiped at him, her claws out, ready to spill blood. “Those are my sons. They are my number one priority.”
He let out a breath, trying to remain calm. “Oliver.”
“Got it. Hurt her, though, and I take it out of your hide.” The Foreseer ran toward the den center to get the Alphas and form an emergency meeting.
“Cole. Get out of my way.”
He growled, low and deadly, his chest rumbling with the anger of his cat. “We need to make sure others know what’s happening. What if your boys weren’t the only ones taken? What if someone knows something that can help? Going out blind will only hurt us. It could endanger not only our lives but the boys’, as well.”
“Their lives are already in danger.” Her bear was so close to the surface he was afraid she’d break right then if she didn’t take a step back.
So he did the only thing he could to get her mind off the danger.
He kissed her.
It was a quick but brutal meeting of lips. Just to put her bear on the path of another danger, another fear that he knew she held.
She pushed at him, her claws digging into his shoulders. When she ripped her mouth from his she screamed, “What the fuck?” She looked angry, but at least she didn’t look like she was on the edge of insanity as she had before. That was at least something.
“You better?” he asked.
She deliberately wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. He wouldn’t let that sting.
“I won’t say thank you.” She let out a breath. “I need my babies.”
“And we’re going to get them.” He held out his hand, and she stared at it for a moment before placing her smaller one in his. He squeezed once and nodded. “Let’s go.”
“You have the scent?” Holden asked, his brows lowered. “You can track it?”
Cole nodded. “Yeah, I can. And I will.”
They’d been at the den center for five minutes with the other Alphas and various shifters who thought they could help and were already forming a plan. The entire Pack couldn’t meet to discuss what was going on since the SAU was always watching. If they thought the shifters were planning a revolt out in the open, it would spell disaster for the actual revolt they kept secret.
“You’re not leaving me behind,” Anya snapped. “Those are my sons.”
Cole nodded. He hadn’t planned to leave Anya in the den at all. Though it grated on him that he’d be leading her into danger, there was no way she’d be safe back at the compound. She’d end up going feral in her worry for her sons. If he were by her side, he could hopefully keep her bear at bay while they hunted for her cubs.
“It’s a human who hid his scent,” Jonah said with a frown. “That worries me. What else are the humans hiding?”
“Maybe we’ll find out while we’re there, but my first priority is Owen and Lucas.” He raised his chin but didn’t meet his Alpha’s eyes. There was a reason the big cat was the Alpha, after all.
“I understand,” Jonah said gruffly. “But take in what information you can.” He paused, looking at the others in the room. “What else do we know about this human?” He looked at Anya. “You said he’s the boys’ father?”
Anya’s jaw clenched. “Yes, their father. He was a human scientist who led me to believe he was on our side. He lied. He left the first chance he could once other humans figured out he was a sympathizer—or at least made others believe he was. He wanted nothing to do with my pregnancy. He’s never met the boys.” She swallowed. “Until this morning.”
Andrew, the Ursine Alpha, let out a curse. “Well, fuck it, Anya. Who is this guy and why didn’t I kill him when I had the chance?”
She met her Alpha’s gaze, and Cole wanted to reach out and hold her close. “If I could go back in time, I’d kill him myself. You know that.”
“What’s his name?” Ariel asked. She sat next to her mate Holden, her eyes glossy with tears. “What else can you tell us about him? I know you’re planning to follow his scent, but is there anything else?”
“His name is Frank Talbot. That’s all I know. I don’t even know if he’s part of the SAU anymore.”
Cora sucked in a breath. “Frank Talbot?”
Soren cursed beside her and brought her close, running his hands down her back.
“What? What is it?” Cole asked, frowning.
“Frank was the one who kidnapped us,” Cora said, her voice filled with the rage of a tiger princess.
Anya took a step back, her body shaking. Cole was there in an instant, not touching her, but close enough that he could catch her if she should fall. She looked over her shoulder at him, her face deathly pale. She didn’t fall, but her shoulders lowered once he stood near.
“No,” she whispered. “How…how is that possible?”
Andrew growled, his voice low. “It seems that Dr. Talbot has a lot of explaining to do.”
Soren tilted his head and studied Cole. “We can’t let too many of us leave at once. You and Anya will have to find this bastard on your own. Kill him for me, for daring to touch my mate. I will not be able to spill his blood, but you will.”
Cole nodded, vowing to the wolf who loved his feline mate with all of his tortured soul. Anya leaned against Cole’s chest and he put his hand on her hip, aware others were watching. He wasn’t sure she even noticed, her mind had retreated into her own panic and fear. He understood that, and once they found the boys, he’d make sure they discussed what was going on between the two of them.
“Be careful,” Cora said suddenly. “He got kicked out of the SAU from what I could tell. That means the SAU…and others are looking for him.”
He frowned. “Others?”
Soren met his gaze. “Others. Be on the lookout.”
The Unseen? Could that be what he was talking about? The shifters that had escaped being corralled by the humans lived in secret, their very existence a death sentence. What would the Unseen want with Frank Talbot? Not all shifters knew of the Unseen, but Cole did, he’d scented them before. He’d always given them a wide berth, as he hadn’t wanted to alert anyone of his presence while outside the den walls…but if he could use them to find Owen and Lucas he’d break his rule in a heartbeat.
Anya pulled away from him and turned to meet his gaze. He’d find her children, then figure out the next step. Because no matter what, he wasn’t letting go of this feeling, this connection.
Something had changed.
Something important.
But first, he needed to save the lives of those currently in the hands of a human who deserved something far worse than death.
Far worse.
Chapter 5
Anya stood near the fence seven minutes after leaving the Alphas. The meeting itself had only taken nine minutes. It had been thirty-four minutes since she’d noticed her boys missing.
Thirty-four minutes and a lifetime of agony.
She pulled at the long sleeves of the shirt Ariel had passed to her as they’d headed out. The brand on Anya’s skin would never fade away—the SAU has made sure of that—but she could at least keep it covered while they were outside the den walls.
Since she’d been forced inside at the tender age of seven, she hadn’t been outside the compound except to travel from the former Ursine den to her new home. Other than that, she’d only seen the outside world via the glimpses others showed her in photographs and recounted memories. She barely remembered what the world looked like without a cage around it. She hadn’t seen the effects of a badly depleted human population after the Verona Virus had almost taken them out.
Now she was about to follow a cat she didn’t even like into a world that scared her more than she’d ever admit, to find her sons and bring them home. If she could kill the bastard that had broken her heart and stolen her babies in the process, she would.
Revenge would take a backseat to her children’s safety, however.
Cole came up to her side, Oliver behind him. Her brother frowned, worry etched on his face. He hadn’t seen this, she knew. If he had, he’d have done all in his power to stop it. She couldn’t blame him for what happened, and didn’t. She’d learned long ago that her fate was up to her and her alone. The others could rely on a Foreseer. She only had her brother, not the magic in his veins.
Her bear pushed at her as it had been all morning. Only it wasn’t as severe as it had been when she’d been at the fence before. If Cole hadn’t kissed her, knocking her for a loop, she might have gone bear and hurt herself or someone she cared about. Her bear didn’t think about more than the need to make someone bleed for daring to touch Owen and Lucas. Anya had barely held in her control and almost snapped until Cole had pressed his lips to hers, keeping her sane.
She wouldn’t thank him for that, though she knew she should.
She’d also ignore the way his lips had felt against hers, the way his heated body had felt pressed to hers.
There was no use thinking things like that. H
er feelings were just a momentary lapse in judgment brought on by a traumatic event and the inability to cope.
Cole tilted his head then reached out, tracing the metal collar on her neck. She didn’t move back from his touch, neither did she lean forward. She honestly didn’t know which way her body would respond, so she stood still.
“I have the scent trail down and we need to move fast. But we can’t be wearing these, Anya. It’s a death sentence to take them off, but it’s a beacon for anyone who sees us wearing them outside these walls. We’ll have to take them off and keep them on us for when we return. We can keep the brands hidden, but we’re still going to have to look as inconspicuous as possible.”
She nodded, her hands going up to the clasp at the back of her neck. She’d never taken her collar off, not since she’d been forced to wear it at age seven. She slept in it, fought it in, made love in it, showered it in…everything in her life held the mark of the brand and the collar. The metal grew during a shift so she could wear it as a bear, and had grown as she’d aged. It was specially made by scientists who thought they were gods. She’d seen friends die at the hands of the SAU because those shifters had fought for their freedom. They’d lost, but Anya prayed that would not always be the case.
Cole’s fingers brushed hers as he helped her with the clasp. It wasn’t easy to take off. It had been built to stay tight until the day they died. The SAU probably wanted shifters to be buried with their collars, but that didn’t happen. Of the bodies the Pack was allowed to keep—the SAU sometimes took bodies to experiment on—the Alphas took the collars off so the dead could be laid to rest. As free as they could be. All would wear their brands in death, but the ink that lay on top made it their own.
The lock on the back opened with a snap and she shuddered at the sound. That wasn’t the click of freedom, but confirmation of the brevity of the situation.
Cole took the collar and slid it into his hoodie pocket, his collar already off. He cupped her face, his gaze intense.